Cape Girardeau, Mo. (January 9, 2002) - The Southeast Gymnastics squad will be looking to exact a little revenge as they travel to Normal, Illinois Sunday to compete against the Redbirds of Illinois State. ISU beat Southeast twice last season, once by a margin of .175, and again in the conference championships.

Southeast is coming off a season-opening loss to the seventh-ranked University of Florida and Central Michigan University. Southeast was promising despite missing two of their top seniors in Stephanie Furman and Jessica Bagwill. Sophomore Ashley Godwin was the vault champion with a score of 9.700. Junior Amy Cole had an All-Around score of 37.825, while Godwin scored 37.700. Florida was the team champion with 194.175 points with Central Michigan scoring 189.375.

Illinois State will be competing in its season opener this Sunday. First-year coach and former Redbird Gymnast Beth Larson will be making her coaching debut against the Otahkians. Larson took over for Jill Hollembeak, who stepped down after five seasons to pursue her master's degree at ISU. Hollembeak is now a graduate assistant in the ISU Athletic Department. They Redbirds lost Heather Molder and Michelle Huston from last season's Midwest Independent Conference Championship team. They return junior's Kristy Keinbrink and Denise Houda, as well as sophomore Lisa Klein.

Southeast will have its home opener next Friday, January 18, as they play host to a triangle between Northern Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The Meet will start at 7 p.m. Coach Stotzheim and her players will also have their annual Media Day at 3 p.m. on Tuesday January, 15, in Parker Gym.